Contact: Erika Martinez
(505)986-4819
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2014
New Mexico Joins Over 40 States to Outlaw Texting While Driving
Santa Fe, NM – Today, Governor Susana Martinez signed Senate Bill 19, which prohibits texting while driving, except when texting for medical or emergency assistance.
According to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, drivers who text while driving are 23 times more at risk to be involved in an accident than drivers who are not distracted by their phones.
“While portable electronics have changed the way we communicate, the car is one place where these devices need to be turned off unless a headset is used,” said bill sponsor, Senator Peter Wirth (D-25-Santa Fe). “Stopping people from texting while driving will save lives.”
The bill is co-sponsored by Representative James E. Smith (R-22- Bernalillo, Sandoval & Santa Fe). The No Texting While Driving Law will go into effect on July 1, 2014.
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